Ironing board and cabinet therefor



July 11, 1950 A. P. LANTZ IRONING BOARD AND CABINET THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1946 El 7 ANN IS om ..-\M VN m m m v @N mm ,mm 3 j om mm. mm EN ow 3 NE! mm E 9 ow mm 6 NT om N0 mm m 2 i? x m J :w h O wm mm M? O om. in 0 U EM 1 E EM 0. M III 1L1 l.|| N w\\ a N E E mu Q S Q? U WWE 0* E \\&\ MW O E N0 o (R V INVENTOR ALPHA PERRY LANTZ.

ATTORNEYS July 11, 1950 A. P. LANTZ IRONING BOARD AND CABINET THEREFOR 3 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1946 I INvENToR. ALPHA ERRY LANTZ.

July 11, 1950 A. LANTZ IRONING BOARD AND CABINET THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 14, 1946 mom min.

lNvEN'roR. ALPHA PERRY LANTz ATTORNEYS.

91 o o o Fm 0m :1 Em mm mm 3 mm mm 3 mm mm *Q Patented July 11, 1950 ED STATES PATENT oFricgf Alpha lerry Lantz, Washington, D. 0. Application May 14, 1946, Serial No. 669,661

ing boards and cabinets therefor and has for its object the provision of a cabinet either as a part of a permanent building structure, or as a separately formed unit to be attached to a wall of a. room or the like, combined with means for supporting and bracing a pair of ironing boards (one the customary board of normal size and the other a relatively smaller sleeve board) in a novel manner affordinggreat strength in their ironing operations, and requiring a minimum amount of space in their stored or inoperative positions within the cabinet.

3 Claims. (01. 38-129) This invention relates to improvements in iron- I The-preferred embodiment of the invention comprises the cabinet and the pair of normal and sleeve boards pivoted in the cabinet, in close vertical parallel planes whereby the boards when stored or closed in the cabinet will overlap and reduce the space required to accommodate the length of the boards, and permitting the boards to be swung outwardly from the cabinet into horizontal planes approximating that customarily desired above the level of the floor, to accommodate the user and avoid awkwardness or inconvenience of the user that would otherwise result from the respective ironing positions of the board being at abnormal or greatly varying ironing positions.

To these ends the ironing boards and cabinet are conjointly provided with combined side wall tying rods or braces and pivoting members,- together with abutting portions between the inner ends of the boards-and recessed portions in the back wall of the cabinet whereby the boards will be swingingly mounted in the cabinet and the boards in ironing position will be firmly reinforced, in ironing position, by the bodies of the side and rear walls ofthe cabinet as distinguished from supplemental stops or braces customarily added to said walls as separately formed or added attachments.

Ancillary features of the improvements comprise improved means for automatically opening the boards to ironing position, or for closing the same to nested or closed position in the cabinet, combined with means for latching the same against said automatic operation.

Other novel and improved details, such as the special formation of the back wall of the cabinet with recessed or cut away portions inwardly of the face thereof to constitute the aforesaid inner end abutments for the boards; combined braces and pivot portions for the boards; fasteners for a protecting cover or padding instrumentalities for the boards; and iron supporting means to retain the iron when at rest, against falling from the board, especially in the instance of the relatively narrow sleeve board. I

All of the foregoing, together with various details or refinements, will be fully understood from. the detail description hereinafter containedwhe'n read in connection with the accompanying draw-- ings forming a part hereof, and wherein said pre ferred embodiment of the invention is illustratedi In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the structure,

parts being broken away, the door of the cabl not being open with the ironing boards inpro+ jected or ironing position, the boards being shown in cross-section. I Figure 2 is a similar view with the boards in closed or nested position in the cabinet. I,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken 'on the line X-X of Figure 1, looking to the right. Figure 4 is a similar view taken on the line Y-Y of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a. top plan view of the inner end of the sleeve board, particularly illustrating the iron holder attached thereto and immediately associ-.- ated parts. Figure 6 is a top plan view of the rear end of the other board showing its iron holder, and reinforcement and attaching means fora cover or pad.

Figure 7 is a detail vertical sectional view (on the line Z-Z of Figure 4) through the back wall of the cabinet showing the latching means for the main board. .1 Figures 8 and 9 are respectively a plan View and vertical section of another form of latching means for the main board.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate f the same-parts in the several views, the cabinet. for the ironing. boards is shown as rectangular .in cross-section, comprising an upright rear wall If], side walls ll extending forwardly therefrom and a hinged door or closure 12, portions of this struc ture being broken away to enable a better illus- .tration of the contents of the cabinet.

Bridging the space within the cabinet are a pair of shafts I3 and I4, these shafts performing the double function of bracing the side walls and as pivotal mountings respectively, for the main ironing board I and the sleeve board IS.

The boards differ in their construction primarily in the length and width thereof, the sleeve board, of course, being considerably smaller in these respects, throughout, as compared to the main board.

The shafts I3 and I4 are arranged one above the other (Figure 3) and in spaced vertical planes. The shaft I4 of the sleeve board is relatively adjacent to the back wall In of the cabinet and the shaft I3 of the main board relatively adjacent to the front portion of the cabinet in order that the boards I5 and I6, when closed or stored in the cabinet, may occupy parallel positions vertically within the cabinet, and also, when the boards are in their horizontal or outward projecting and operating positions may occupy plai-ies' com/enrently and comfortably accessible to the user. H

Underneath the inner end of the main board I5, and secured thereto by rivets I1, is an inverted Y-shaped brace having-side portions I8 extending along the edges of the board, a connecting intermediate portion I-9 extending transversely across the board and a longitudinal brace extending outwardly centrally of the board, to strengthen the latter and to brace and secure opposite loop portions =2I formed to accommodate the'sha-ft I3. h I e v,

Near the opposite ends of the shaft I3, and between the edges oi -the board Iiiand the inner races of the side :walls II, are coiled-springs 22 sleeved upon the shaft -l3, each spring having one offset end 23 engaged-With theadjoiiiing side wall II, and an opposite end portion '24 engaged with the edge of the board I'9,jthe spring being of a character either 'to throw the board vertiealry in stored position or outwardly to iroiiirl'gv position, the function in the present instance being the "former, that is, to throw the board upwardly to vertical or stored position in the cfabirre't. In such case means -rn'ust be afforded to, overcome theclosing or storing tendency of the springs by latching the board against closing movement when the same has been swung outwardlyinto ironing position, such means comprising a hook '25 pivoted to the back wall "m of t eeabmet, hav me a handle *26 and an offset end 21 to engage a complemental loop 28 struck out from or formed 31h the referees fastened'to the u per s rface r the board I I by rivetsbr bolts '30 passing through trre same aha through the underlying pate IS. The plate 29 is intended, not only to reinforce the inner portion "of the board I 5, but is also shaped With upstanding rib 3'2 marking the margin or asiignu raisea platform 'orrest 33 to 'supp'or'tand prevent slippage of an iron from the board,

The outer edges of the plates I9 a'ndj29 are formed with a series of hooks 3'4 and '35 adjacent to the under and upper surfaces, respectively, of the board [5 to afford a means of attachment for any suitable covering of padding, if desired,

pieced on the operating face, or sleeves over the end of the board, the latter being conveniently indicated ih Figure 2 having rods as embedded anesthesia ends with separated ex-posed portibns '31, afforded by "complemental cut-away por tiorls of the covering as at'3 8, to expose parts of the rodfor slipping over and engaging with the adjacent hooks. k

,, Avery impor ant feature or the presen invem t'ior'i resides in the means for bracing or reinforc= ing the board, "in its ironing position, from the entire rear wall I0 of the cabinet for forming said rear wall with integral abutting portions for the inner ends of the boards to bear the ironing pressures on that portion of said boards that project outwardly beyond the pivots thereof. This obviates the complications and expense attending the provision of special brackets, stops, or abutments separately formed and attached to the surface of the wall, as by nails, screws or the like, as well as providing a structure wherein the inconvenience or trouble of said separate device, and their fastening means, becoming loose or disarranged is avoided.

; To these ends the rear wall I0 has formed in its inner facech'am'iel portions 39 and 40-, respectively, the former for the lower or main board I5 and the latter for the upper board I6. These channel portions constitute vertically disposed ways 'E'I arm -'42 in which the inner ends 43 and 44 of the boards I5 and I6 will enter when the boards are in operating position so that the flat upper surfaces of the boards will contact and abut the horizontal or fiat tops 45 and 46 constituting the upper end walls of the channels, the inner walls of the latter being in part vertical and in part carved downwardly and forwardly as at 4 1 and at, an the of movement of the boards on their pivots I3 and 14, the extreme inner ends of the boards themselves being rounded to prevent 'aiiy eossibmr of interference with the swinging of the inner ends of the boards iiito out of said At the opposite ems '49 of the channel ia'orti'on t9 (and obviously these/me m'ay 'b'e ui'iilized eoasestida with the channel portion 40) a ipair or fig snap fasteners 50 are secured, as atfit, intervening reinforcing plates 52 being provided for the secured ends of sa'i'd springs and the elongat'e'd 'rree portions pf the spring carrying seats 'or sockets 53 into which the b'all lik 'e heads 54 or pi'nsrast heu in the "adjacent edges of the board It, "winfsnap-as the ride up the springs to in the o enin movement or the board. This affords a practical and efficient latch for the pears, in its 'ktfr'ded position, and for usual purposes will be suni'ei'ent where the -tl'rru'st'izrg s ring -22 of the board to throw the board outwardly, but embodiments where the spring aotioh is reverse, namely to throw the board in warms into the "cabinet, the supplemental rest'ener constituted by the ho'ok 28 and loop '21 heretofore referred to will also be employed.

The springs for throwing the sleeve board into eperat've or position are indicated at 55, g ahch'oied at one end 58 to the rear wan =10 or the cabinet and at its opposite the "side of'the sleeve ard I6, the coil g having a constant urge-1h the di relation of opening movement of the sleeve board, and the top "we-1i 46 "of the channel portion '40 of "the ba ok being lined with a rubber or sho'ck absorbihg l'nater ia-l 58 so that "w en the board is released and thrown outwardly from -the cabinet and the irfi n-z i' "esa of the board abuts said shock absorbing inaterial the operation will he noiseless.

When the sleeve board I6 is 'ro'reeu into closed or rested Tpositlon ih =the cabinetagainst the openone pressure of the ings '55, the sleeve board -m y be retained in its said closed position by a hook-latch 59 past s on 'the rear fwall ID at 60, and formed with a handle '6! and offset end '62 movable in a plane-parallel 'to the rear wall to pass and hookoverthe iifide'r face or "the "sleeve board it, when erased to parallel position with the rear and thereby latch the sleeve boardto hold the same against openingmovement thereof until the hook 62 has been swung through manipulation of the handle 6|, topass out of the range of movement of the sleeve board and thereby free the same for outward swinging movement. v

The'edges of the channel portions 39-and 40 may be reinforced by a metal plate 63, or similar angular corner plate 64, as desired, to correspondingly reinforce or protect the corner edges of the rear wall l0, it being appreciated that said can and' cabinet may be formed of wood, or plastic material wherein reinforcementsof the shoulder or bearing portions at the upperends of the channel portions may be expedient or desirable.

At the inner end portion of the sleeve board l6 an iron rest 65, secured to the'face of the board, similar to the securing of the iron rest 33 to the board [5, this rest 65 having upstanding ribs or retaining flanges 66 and 61 to prevent displacement of an iron placed thereon. The iron rests 33 and 65 are of metal formation, as shown in Figure 3, elevated slightly above the surface of the boards to which the same are attached, to provide an air space therebetween.

The channel portions 39 and 40 are of a width approximately the width of the board that engages therein so that the end of the board will be substantially confined between end walls of the ways with reference to the side edges of the boards, so that there may be no substantial lateral play or movement of the boards from normal position.

In the embodiment of the invention utilizing an outwardly thrusting spring, as in the case of the sleeve board (Figure 3), in lieu of an inwardly closing spring, as in the case of the main board, (same figure), it would, of course, be desirable in instances to have an automatically acting lock to retain the board from being thrown to open position forwardly of the cabinet. To supply such a need the invention embraces the form of an automatic latch illustrated in detail in Figures 8 and 9. This latch comprises a supporting bracket 66, attached to the forward corner edge of one of the side walls ll of the cabinet and bearing twin cylindrical casings 69 projected inwardly within the cabinet said cylindrical portions 6!! containing outwardly thrusting coiled springs Hi abutting a vertical pin l'l, working in slots 72 of the cylindrical portions and carrying at the ends of said pin 1| a sliding and rocking hollow keeper or bolt 13, adapted to spring in front of the board I6, 0r l5, as the case may be, when closed into the cabinet. The hollow bolt or keeper l3 pivots on the pin H so that in the closing of the board into the cabinet the board will strike the outer edge of the bolt and rock the same inwardly from the extended position (Figure 8) when the board may pass inwardly therebeyond, after which a spring 14, also sleeved on the pin H and bearing at one end on the inner face of the forward wall of the bolt 13, and the corresponding face of the connecting plate '15, between the cylindrical portions 69, will rock the bolt back to normal aligned position with the cylindrical portions 69 and firmly hold the board against movement out of the cabinet. It will be appreciated that the bolt 13 will not only rock on its pivot 7| but may also move inwardly with said pin as allowed by the slots 72.

To retract the bolt against the pressure of the springs 10, so that the ironing board will be released from behind the bolt and may be thrown or moved forwardly to ironing position, a'handle 16 is provided, the same being pivoted to the bolt 13, and normally it may occupy a position along side the bolt, that is, parallel thereto, so as to offer no projection to interfere with the closing of the door l2 of the cabinet; and when the bolt is to be withdrawn to permit opening of the board the said handle 16 may be swung outwardly and grasped in pulling the bolt back over the cylindrical portions 69 and connecting web 15. i

It will be understood that the invention may be incorporated with other devices or embodied in forms and arrangements differing in detail from the illustrations herein, without departing from the spirit of the invention and in keeping with the hereto appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with an ironing board, of means for supporting the same when in opened or closed position, said means comprising a cabinet having a rear and side walls, means bridging said side walls and constituting a pivotal support therebetween with which the board is operatively connected to be moved into or out of the cabinet, means for thrusting the board to one of its positions, and means in rear of said pivotal support and formed integral with and within said rear wall to engage an entering part of the ironing board and brace the same when in outward or ironing position, and a spring latch located in the rear wall adjacent to the entering part of the board and adapted to be engaged therewith when the board is in ironing position.

2. The combination with an ironing board, of means for supporting the same when in opened or closed position, said means comprising a cabinet having a rear and side walls, means bridging said side Walls and constituting a pivotal support therebetween with which the board is operatively connected to be moved into or out of the cabinet, means in rear of said pivotal support to engage a part of the ironing board and brace the same when in outward or ironing position, the pivotal supporting means for the board comprising a cross-rod connected to the side walls of the cabinet and bearing portions on the board sleeved on said rod, said bearing portions including a, plate underlying the board with the bearing portions formed therein, a companion plate overlying the board, means passing through the board fastening the plates together to reinforce the bearing portions, and hooks formed on the outer edges of the plates and carried thereby for attachment of a cover or pad.

3. The combination with an ironing board, of means for supporting the same when in open or closed position, said means comprising a cabinet having a rear and side walls, said rear wall bein provided with a recess bound by a top and side walls, a rod bridging the side walls of the cabinet and constituting a pivotal support therebetween with which the board is operatively connected to be moved into and out of the cabinet, said top and side walls of the recess providing means to the rear of the pivotal support to engage an entering part of the ironing board to brace the same when in ironing position, the side walls of the recess being spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the width of the entering part of the ironing board to prevent lateral movement thereof, and spring latches mounted on said side walls of the recess adjacent ing; position,

REFERENCES CITED. The following references: are of record in the file of this patent:

STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 399,925 Perry Mar. 19, 1889 143,517 Joyal Nov. 10, 1903 780,113 Marcuml Jan. 17, 1905 912,319 Nelson, Feb, 16, 1909 950,104 Havecotte Feb., 22, 1910 969,684 Cline Sept, 6, 1910 1,007,001 Gray Oct. 24, 1911 Ringland et a]; M21139, 1915 Numher- Number Name Date HOIRSQhlL I'L 12m, July 18, 1 15 Karl. q wuw-m Nov. 14; 1916 'Izra-mmel etal. .7- July-1211 21- E.dw,a1:ds; Qct. 2,192 3 Wasmuth Feb. 10, 1925 Stienecker 001312011925 Williams June 21, 1927 Wegh 1 1 Dec, 6,1927 Ackerman Sept. 18, 1928. Lyth June; 24, 1930 Rifieyr Nov. 29, 1932 Juveb Jan. 24, 1933- Fay Oct. 6, 1 42: G ris, Mar. 2, 1 ,43:

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date; Great, Britain, -111, J 1111. 2; 11 21 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,514,706 July 11, 1950 ALPHA PERRY LANTZ It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

In the grant, line 13, for Alpha Perry Lantz, his heirs read Alpha Perry Lantz,

' her heirs;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of October, A. D. 1950.

[SEAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

